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Post by onewyr on Mar 1, 2009 7:11:11 GMT -5
Last night after I got home I grabbed the headers and started to install them and noticed a few things that really pissed me off about the kit.
1. all of the header to block bolts were a 1/4" to long so I had to cut all of them, not a big deal except that I shouldn't have to be modifying the kit.
2. all of the shouldered bolts that hook the headers to the "Y" pipe were way to long and I had to find different bolts because the shoulder was to long.
3. there are 3 O2 sensor ports which wouldn't have been bad if they had supplied plugs for the un needed ports because in 92 they still only used 1 O2 sensor so now I either need to weld the ports shut or go buy some plugs.
I understand this kit was for years 90 up and some may have 3 o2 sensors or what ever but as a bolt in kit I should not need to cut bolts, find new bolt and buy port plugs.
I sure hope they sound good though.
I also started installing the extended radius arms it is a nice kit although some holes don't line up but i think that is flaws in the manufacturing at the ford plant. so far it looks like the only mods I will have to do is to the back of the driverside beam. I need to grind a couple spots so that the arms don't bind. I am glad I have my welder now because I had to make a socket to pull the top bolt in the arm because it is a double sided stud meaning there is a bolt head in the middle of the stud and the top is to long so to keep me from having to use a wrench I took my deep 1 1/8" socket and cut it and stuffed it in a bigger socket so that the socket was deeper and it worked great.
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Post by CORE 4WD on Mar 1, 2009 11:57:47 GMT -5
Brian, if it's any solace out of all the years I've installed aftermarket stuff, next to nothing has been truly "bolt-on". I think lockers, shocks and diff skids are pretty much the only things that have been no-mod "bolt-on"!
You could take a bolt and cut it to length for a plug if you need to...
Dave
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Post by onewyr on Mar 1, 2009 19:33:19 GMT -5
I went and bought a pack of plugs and they were the wrong size also after I said screw it I will weld the plugs in I realized they were aluminium so I just plugged the holes with so bolts welded in.
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Post by onewyr on Mar 1, 2009 19:33:33 GMT -5
today we finished installing the front lift I still need to order shocks but I gotta get the rear set and shock mounts done so that I can order the right length. I got the cats, and the muffler bolted in but had to cut the exhaust just after the muffler because the stock bends don't work with the new frame. we also got the rear body mounts in and the body is bolted down. The dash is in as well as the steering column, clutch master cylinder, brake booster. I think one more long day and I can fire it off and the only thing I will be lacking is finishing the bed and the setting the rear shackles where they need to be. things I need to pick up 1. radiator hoses 2. seats 3. driveshaft 4. Electric fan 5. fluids 6. new inner and outer fenders and the strip of metal under the grill with the marker lights in it. i think that is it but I am sure there will be more here are a couple of pictures of the suspension and headers.     p.s. We put the body on the frame with no mounts and a set of 215/ tires and then rolled the truck back into the garage to locate the mounts and after the mounts and body lift were installed I realized that I am gonna have to let the air out of the tires to get it out of the garage. and to think I still have a set of 34's to bolt on I guess this is the last time that truck will see the inside of the garage. hahahahaha |
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Post by onewyr on Mar 2, 2009 17:19:38 GMT -5
here is the socket I made to remove the top radius arm bolt.  |
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Post by onewyr on Mar 5, 2009 20:12:54 GMT -5
I got a couple more parts in mail yesterday and today. yesterday I got my new flex a lite electric fan, rear shock mounts that I don't think I will be needing. I bolted the fan to the radiator and except for a little bit of rebending that I need to do to get the fan to lay against the radiator it is a direct bolt in very clean set up everything is concealed.  today was the package I have been waiting on for like 2 or 3 weeks. The rock sliders are 67"long and from side to side the are 8" wide and made of I think 1 1/2" DOM. I can't wait to get these in I have other stuff I need to get done before I get these things on but they are sweet. I set one on a jack stand just to get an idea about what they look like under the truck. How far out should I mount them I want them to keep the body off of the rocks as well as use them for steps. cause I am gonna need them as steps.   |
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Post by 87B2XLT on Mar 6, 2009 2:25:53 GMT -5
You might wish you had bought a PAL 16" puller fan and either the wiring kit or make your own for using a temp switch that goes into the water neck vice that Flex-A-Lite. I've heard good and bad reviews on the Flex-A-Lite, so I probably will never invest the money or time in one myself. Even a flex flan to replace the clutch fan is a step up - IF you aren't doing a body lift, IMO.
Dave G
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Post by onewyr on Mar 6, 2009 19:06:25 GMT -5
to each his own
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Post by onewyr on Mar 8, 2009 19:24:00 GMT -5
Today we got a lot done. We finished up the the work under the hood so that it could run and bolted the ecu in and gave it a crank but all it did was turn over, I forgot that the inertia switch had tripped so I reset that and hooked up the gas tank and it fired right up. The truck doesn't sound any different with the headers versus the exhaust manifolds I think I am gonna buy a flowmaster or a cherry bomb. As the truck was burning all the paint off the headers I noticed that none of my gauges were working it turned out that the explorer dash harness was a bit different than the ranger harness so we swapped the ranger dash back in. I bolted the passenger door in and realized that I was a bit low on the placement of the rear body mount so I put 2 3/16" washers under the 2 back body mounts and that fixed it. We got the new seats bolted in and figured lets take it for a stroll on frontwheel drive boy does that suck on the pavement with a lockright. But anyways it was cool getting to move it under its own power, I am close but I still need to get the fuel tank mounted and something done with a bed of some sorts. and that is before I attach the shackle hangers, and order my shocks. I think I may end up buying a fuel cell.   |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2009 21:00:12 GMT -5
I like the new rig. I did see a fuel cell in the Trader this week. Are ya gonna put some bucket seats in the bed like the old Subaru Brat? Maybe a cooler between 'em? It could be a dusty and dry ride back there...
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Post by LILREDCJ6 on Mar 8, 2009 21:06:20 GMT -5
From what i hear theres another ride out there somewhere.
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Post by onewyr on Mar 8, 2009 22:36:23 GMT -5
yup there is another ride but it is top secret and by top secret I mean I haven't had a chance to take no dang pictures been to busy with my truck and Brandy's grandfather just got hospice saturday and things aren't looking very good so we got a bit of stuff on our plates.
oh and I like my flex a lite just fine thank you
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Post by 87B2XLT on Mar 9, 2009 2:33:34 GMT -5
yup there is another ride but it is top secret and by top secret I mean I haven't had a chance to take no dang pictures been to busy with my truck and Brandy's grandfather just got hospice saturday and things aren't looking very good so we got a bit of stuff on our plates. oh and I like my flex a lite just fine thank you I'll keep Brandy's grandfather in mind, and in thoughts and prayers. Let me know how that Flex-A-Lite works on the trails and overall - I forget, does it bolt in to the stock mounts or is it one with the through-core plastic cr*p? Dave G |
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Post by onewyr on Mar 9, 2009 18:22:07 GMT -5
The flex lite fan comes with some nice aluminium brackets that allow it to mount just like the stock fan shroud does it is a nice piece. features bolt in brackets, adjustable thermostat, manual override terminal , and it also has a hook up for the a/c / oba. Brandy's grandfather passed away this morning around 1am so now we move forward he is in a better place. I personally wasn't all that close to him but my kids were and that was the hardest part was 1. telling them that he was ill and not gonna make it and 2. Telling them this morning that he had died. It hurts me when my kids hurt and any of you who have kids know what I am talking about.
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Post by onewyr on Mar 9, 2009 18:30:49 GMT -5
Progress report: After I did my part today with the family I came home and hit it pretty hard and got alot done. I pulled the rear axle so that I could move the spring perches around and while the axle was out I welded the shackle hangers in, they are functional I just need to dress them up a bit. I also cut the driveshaft that I got at the junk yard yesterday and bolted in now the trick is hoping that it is somewhat balanced anyone know of a good shop to get a shaft balanced at? I got the shocks mounted but I am not happy whith how far from vertical they are so I may change them after a test and tune. I also got the fuel tank mounted and think it may do after I get the "BED" built. things left. Rock rails, mount and wire the tail lights, wire in the winch,wire the oba and plub the oba, mount the tcase skid plate, wire the fan in permanently, wire up the sounds and cb, seatbelts, get the windshield installed hopefully this week I feel sorry for the glass guy (Jimmy's Dad), clean up the rest of the glass and install it, replace the guts in the b2 power door with the guts from the ranger manual door. I think that is it but probably not.  |
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